The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-11-09
THEY DON'T WANT MERCY.
Fischer, Lingg, and Engel Write Let
tern to the Governor OF
Illinois.

Court of this State Anent this action OF O
sympathizing and we'll meaning portion OF tne
people solemnly declare that IL has not my
sanction. AS a man OF honor, as man Oh con.
science, and as man OF principle caIhos
the indictment-of murder. am no Dlurderer.
and cannot apologize Tor IN action OF iohtch
kiolc am innocent. And should ask mercy
on account of my principles, which i honestly
belle @ to be true and noblep No! am no h{po-
crit, and have therefore. no excuses to ohe17rth
regard TO being an Anarchist, because the ex-
periences OF the last eighteen months have
only strengthened my convictions. Inc ques-
ton is. Am responsible toT the de1M o. ne
policemen at the hdBmdrkeH and say no. I'M
less you assert that every Abolitonist could
have been held responsible for the deeds OF I
John Brown Therefore. could not ask OF ac-
self-estimation. II cannot obtain justice from
the authorities and be restored to my family.
then prefer that the verdict should be carried
out as II stands.
Every informed person must. should think,
admit that this verdict is solely due 70 class
hatred, prejudice, the iniiaIninG OF pubic opin-
ion by the malicious newspaper fraternity, and
"a desire on the part OF the privileged classes TO
check the progressive labor movement, Inc
interested parties OF course. deny this, but 1t
is nevertheless true, and am sure that coming
ages will look upon our trial, conviction, ana
ury regard the barbarities of past generations
as the outcome Of intolerance and prejudice
against advanced ideas. History repeats itself:
AS the powers that be have at all times thought
that they could stem the progressive tide by
discriminating few @kickers, SO do the ruling
classes to-day imagine that they can put stop
to the movement OF labor emancipation by
hanging a few OF it's advocates. Progress in its
victorious march has had 20 overcome many
obstacles which seemed invincible, and many
of it's apostles have died the death of martyrs.
The obstacles which bar the road Of progress
to-day seem to be invincible, too; but they vii
the condition Of society had become such that
large portion OF the people complained OF the
existing Injustice the ruling classes h have de,
said that the disconteH of the portion OF the
people in question was due only 10 the "perni-
cious influence" OF malicious agitators.' To-
day again some people assert that the id
agitators" are tho cause Of the immense dis
satisfaction among the working peoplef
not s0iU you not read the signs of
the times? Do you not see that the
clouds ON the social armament are THAN.
ening? Are you not, for instance, aware that
the control OF industry and OF the means OF
transportation, etc, is constantly concentrating
in fewer hands that the monopolists-i. g., the
sharks among the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the lit
tie ones among them; that trusts, pools,
and other combinations are being formed in
order to more thoroughly and systematically
fleece the people that under the present sys-
tenn the development Of technc and machinery
is from year to yoar throwing more workingmen
on the waysde that i'll some parts Of this great
and fertile land n majority OF the farmers are
obliged TO mortgage their homes in order to
satisfy the greed Of monstrous corporations;
that. in short, the rich are constantly growing
richer and the poor poorer? Yes?
And do you not comprehend that all these
evils find their origin in the present institu-
ton of society which allows one portion Of the
human race TO build fortunes upon the mis-
fortunes of others: TO enslave their fellow
men? Instead OF trying to remedy these evils,
and instead of ascertaining just what the cause
OF the widening dissatisfaction is, the ruling
classes, through their mouthpieces, the press,
pulpit, etc, defame and misrepresent the char
acter teachings. and motives Of the advocates
of social reconstruction, and use the rifle and
club on them, and, If opportunity is favorable.
send them to the gallows and prisons. Will
this do any goOdi AS answer i may
well quote the following words with
which BENJAMIN Franklin closed his satrical
essay, RULES for Reducing Great Empire
to a Small one" which he dedicated to the En-
glish Government in l7i6: suppose all their
the kickers complaints TO be invented and
promoted by few fnctious demagogues, whom
IL you could catch and hang all would be quiet
Catch and hang few accordingly; and the
blood of the martyrs shall work miracles in
favor OF your purpose. O., your own ruin.
So, say. society may hang number of dis
ciples OF progress who hGve disnterestedy
served the cause OF the sons of toll, which is
the cause OF humanity but their blood will
work miracles in bringing about the downfall OF
modern society and in Fastening the birth of a
new era OF civilization. Magma est veritas etA
prevalebitl ADoLPH FISCHER.
To Mr.. r. J. O0lesJv, Governor of the State of
Illinois: Anent the fact that the progressive
and liberty-lo portion of the American
people are endeavoring to prevail upon YOU to
interpose your perogative in my case, feel i'm
PEELED to declare, with my friend and comrade,
Parsons, that demand ether liberty or death.
II you are really servant of the people
cording to the Constit OF the country, then
you will, by virtue OF your office, unconditon-
ally release me.
referring to the general and inalienable
rights of men. have called upon the disinher-
tied and oppressed masses to oppose the force
of their oppressors- exercised by armed
enforcement of infamous laws enacted
in the interest of capital - with force
in order TO attain dignihed and
manly existence by securing the full returns Of
their labor This-and only this-is the crime"
W ~ n no m a W 81 inO
the employment of perjured testimony on the
part of the State. And this crime is guaranteed
not only IA right but as duty by the Ameri-
can Constitution. the representatives of which
you are supposed TO be III the State Of Illinois
But If you are not the representative of the
Constitution. but, like the grSaS majority Of
ofiic holders, mere tool OF the monopolists
specific political clique, you will not en-
croach upon the tn rst for blood displayed bv
the extortioners, because mere mitigation Of
the verdict would be cowardice and proof that
the ruling classes which you represent
themselves abashed ut tho monstrosity of my
condemnation, and consequently. OF their
own violation OF the most sacred rights Of the
people.
Your decision in that event will not only
Judge me. but also yourself and those whom
you represent. Judge then! LOUIS LINGO.
Dear Sir: l. George Engel, citizen of the
United States and of Chicago, and condemned !
TO death, learn that thousands OF citizens petit
ton you, as the highest executive officer of the
State of Illinois, To commute my sentence from
death 70 imprisonment. protest emphatically
against this on the following grounds -
am not aware OF having violated any laws'
Of this country. In my frm belief in the Con-
stitution which the founders Of this Republic
bequeatbed to this people. ana which remains
unaltered, have exercised the right of Tree
speech, free press free thought, and free
semblage, as guaranteed by the Constitution,
and have criticised the existing condition of
society and sucsored my fellow-citizens with
my advice. which regard ms the right of every
honest citSon. The experience which have
fifteen
that have lived here. concerning the ballot
and administration OF our public function
aries who have become totally corrupt, has
eradicated my belief in the existence of equal
rights of poor and rich, and the action OF the
public officers, police and militia have pro-
duced the firm belief in me that these condi-
tons cannot last long. In accordance with this
experience haze taught and advised. This
have done in good faith Of tho rights which we
are guaranteed by the Constitution, and, not
being conscious Of my guilt, the powers that
be" may murder me, but they cannot legally
punish me. Iprotest against n communication OF
my sentence and demand either liberty or
lat l. ...l